Loose-leaf binder.



W. ALBRECHT.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER. mummou FILED JULY 1. 1915.

1,168,260, Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

- l IIVVENTO WAZlWechZ WILLIAM ALBRECHT, OF ST.- JOSEPH, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTERN TABLET COMPANY, OF ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Application filed July 7, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM ALBRECHT, residing at St. Joseph, in the county of Buchanan and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loose-Leaf Binders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in loose leaf binders of the type in which the mating prongs are spring held, the spring action tending to deflect the prong supports beyond a center line to hold the prongs in either the closed or open position.

The present invention primarily has for its object to provide a construction in which the expense of manufacture is reduced to the minimum, the operating parts are inclosed, and so constructed that they may be readily removed and replaced when desired.

In its more subordinate nature, the invention resides in those details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will be first fully described, then be specifically pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a perspective view illustrating the invention with the prongs closed. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the invention, the top or cover plate being removed. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 2 with the prongs open. Fig. 4 is a detail cross section on the line 41 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail cross section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 with the prongs open. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 with the prongs closed. Fig. 7 is a plan view of a slight modification of the invention the cover plate being re moved.

In the drawing, in which like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all of the figures, 1 represents the base plate which is provided with longitudinal flanges 10 that, preferably, diverge slightly to interlock with, preferably, converging flanges 12 of the cover plate 11 (see Fig. 1). The base plate 1 is provided with prong slots 2 in the longitudinal edges 10 to permit projection of the circular segment prongs 6. The prongs 6 are formed with rods 5, the latter being inwardly bent to provide heels, the heels on one rod enga ing the opposing heels on the other rod with a tongue and groove connection of the usual type, the parts being eflec Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

Serial No. 38,416.

tively held in engagement by a coil spring 9 that is looped around the bowed portions 7 of the rods 5.

3 designates spacing members secured to the base 1 and spaced at 4: from the longitudinal flange 10 to permit passage of the rods 5 and serve as guides therefor.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 7, the rods 5 are indicated with three prongs and the bowed portion 7*, is indicated as an elongated part whereby to provide for the employment of a plurality of springs 9 if desired.

The base plate 1 may be provided with openings 13 to receive the rivets which are used to secure the base plate to the back of the binder cover.

The cover plate 11 is provided with notches 13 to register with the notches 2 and when interlocked with the base plate 1 it forms a rigid structure therewith and also serves to retain the rods 5 in their seats 4 2, and it also serves as a limiting body to hold the prongs from opening up beyond a predetermined distance.

It will be observed that in my invention the construction is such that the rods 5 and spring 9 form a unit which can be bodily lifted out of the base 1 without disengaging the parts, thus enabling the rods 5 to be made of untempered material, if desired, as no springiness in the rods themselves is required.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it is thought the complete construction, operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

hat I claim is:

1. In a loose leaf binder, in combination, a base plate, a pair of rocking bars mounted on the plate, said bars having heels, those of one bar opposing and engaging those of the other bar, guides on said base in which said bars are mounted, mating prongs carried by the respective bars and a coil spring joining said bars to hold their respective heels in engagement with each other, and a cover plate over said base plate and said bars.

2. In a loose leaf binder, a base plate having longitudinal flanges provided with prong receiving notches, bridge members carried by said base plate adjacent to said notches and spaced from said flanges, rods mounted in said base and guided by said bridge members, each of said rods including inwardly projecting heels, the heels of one diate portion between. said heels, and a coil spring located between said bars at said intermediate portions and'secured at its ends to the respective lntermediate portions,

mating prongs carried bysaid bars, and a cover plate interlockably engaging said base plate and having prong passages.

'3. A loose leaf binder comprising a base plate having longitudinal flanges provided with prong notches, rods mounted on said base member, mating prongs carried by said rods and projecting through said notches, each of said rods having inwardly projecting interengaging portions and a spring connecting said bars and drawing them together to hold said projecting portions in engagement, said rods being pivoted in the general longitudinal direction and said interengaging portions adapted to move to one side or the other of a center line to thereby hold said mating prongs open or closed, and a cover held over said base plate.

' 4. A loose leaf binder comprising a base plate and a cover plate having longitudinal interengaging retaining projections, a pair of rods mounted between and inclosed by said plates, said plates having openings, said rods having mating prongs projecting through said openings, said rods having engaging heels and springs drawing said rods toward each other to hold said heels in engagement and retain said mating prongs in their open and closed positions respectively.

WVILLIAM ALBRECHT.

' Copiesoi-this patent may be'obtain'ed for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

